COP16 begins today in Cancun, Mexico...so what?

Well, you won't see it on CNN's home page, and it's buried near the bottom of BBC's, but the COP16 climate talks indeed started today. While there is little hope for any real progress to come out of the first climate talks since the failed Copenhagen talks last December, there has been a shift in climate action strategy this past year, according to what I'm hearing at various events that I've attended. This article from The Guardian answers some basic questions about COP16, and mentions the big players who will be in attendance. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/08/cancun-cop16-climate-talks


In September I represented my company at the Carbon Disclosure Projects's Global Forum here in New York. The UN "Climate Chief", Christiana Figueres, is highlighted in this article and spoke to us at the Forum. She shared what's reported in the article today - that she holds little hope of significant action by governments at COP16 - but she added something that isn't in this article, and that offers a more optimistic view of climate action. In a nutshell, she and the other big players have now put their hope in corporations and in local government. In the last couple of years, many international corporations have identified “green business” as a huge opportunity, regardless of their personal views, and have restructured products and processes to be able show consumers that they are serious about sustainability and addressing the issue of global climate change. Financial institutions are also in the game, with top banks committing billions of dollars each in capital dedicated to climate change. Local governments, California being a prime example, have turned their back on the stalemate of federal government and moved forward with the most aggressive climate policy in the US.


All of this independent action confirms that what will ultimately drive climate action is, of course, money. The question is: who is going to be resistant to jumping on the bandwagon to capitalize because they’d prefer to point fingers at “activists, tree huggers, and alarmists”? While I personally wish that people would act because they understand the severity of the climate crisis, I’ll take the action any way I can get it.


One day I hope that the governments of the world will be able to agree to a binding treaty, but until then, I guess it’s up to us.


Lauren

Puttin' Solar On It: Breaking News from the White House!

Here comes the sun: White House to go solar

A huge boost was given to environmental activists this morning, particularly a group I work closely with, 350.org. Several weeks ago, Bill McKibben and some students from Unity College in Maine drove down the east coast with one of the solar panels that President Jimmy Carter had installed on the White House roof in the 70s. Ronald Reagan took them down in 1986, but this particular panel has been churning out power to unity college for decades. I signed it on it's way down to the White House, with great hope that a symbolic gesture would be made by President Obama and he would agree to install solar panels on his residence. Alas, Bill and the students were denied the immediate gratification of a "Yes", and were told the White House would "follow their deliberate process" and would look into it. I, like many, assumed this was just another way for the government to say "No".

I was wrong! Today, the White House plans to announce that it will be installing solar panels, and President Obama will join other world leaders who have agreed to do the same for 350.org's Global Work Party on 10/10/10. To learn more or find out how you can join the biggest day of climate action is history, go to http://www.350.org/. Currently there are over 6000 events planned in 184 countries.

Lauren

Climate Week 2010 Kicks Off

I just attended the kickoff event for Climate Week NYC...the launch of the Global 500 and S&P 500 Carbon Disclosure Project Reports - http://www.cdproject.net/. CEOs, UN negotiators, and government representatives were all saying the same thing: we have a moral imperative to act, and there is a business opportunity in the" green race". The key now is for industries and cities to move forward with implementing carbon reduction plans, since larger governments aren't rushing to set the targets they need to...we (the voters, consumers, companies) need to push them in the right direction by our actions.  Another key point...we have the technology, so let's use it!

More later...and if you are in the NYC area, be sure to check out the Climate Week action this week!

http://www.climateweeknyc2010.org/

Lauren

The challenges of communicating about climate change

I have spent two years researching the motivations behind "climate skepticism", and it's a very interesting topic. The following two articles cover a few points that I bump into over and over again. The first is about how the media and politics easily manipulate data interpretation and change public perception, and second is around communication and psychology. Both are interesting reads.

This article from The Economist is an excellent tool for understanding some common arguments from "climate skeptics", and addresses why we should not be thrown off course by media and political arguments on whether or not climate change is happening.

The Economist: "Spin, science and climate change"

This next article from The National Times (Australia) explores some of the above topics as well, but goes deeper into the subject of how climate change data is communicated and how "apocalyptic" messaging can induce feelings of "powerlessness" rather that inspire change, and how activists on the issue could benefit from "self-critical examination" of their communication. Quotes philosopher (and activist), Sarah Bachelard, "There can be a tone of self-righteousness, a kind of shrill moral indignation, in the speech of those of us who protest and campaign … We know that we are on the side of the angels, and in our own way we can fail to do justice to the complex reality of most human action and motivation. We get something out of 'being right' … (and) satisfaction from making those who do not agree with us wrong."

National Times: "What we have is the failure to communicate"

Food for thought...
 
Lauren

It's A Small World After All

At work today in my San Francisco office, I was lucky enough to be told by a colleague about a conference at UC Berkeley tonight, featuring Professor John Harte from the Energy Resources Group, and Jamie Henn from 350.org. I went, and as I was sitting there watching Jamie's presentation, BAM!, my own face showed up on the screen! It was a picture from the Times Square rally on October 24th's International Day of Climate Action. I'm front and center with my mom. Seeing the 350.org pictures from all over the world, and then seeing my own face, made the world seem both big and small at the same time. Seeing the pictures again after six months also gave me renewed hope that people can be energized to take action, and that we can make a difference!

Next up: 10/10/10!

http://www.350.org/

Finally... A Carbon Footprint Calculator I Can Trust!

The past two days have been great, as I returned with fellow IATE alum, Joe Spedding, to speak at Marin Catholic and San Domenico in my hometown of San Anselmo, California. Today San Domenico hosted "Green Scene" in celebration of Earth Day, and I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the amazing efforts the school has made to be sustainable! Solar panels provide 83% of the schools electricity, they compost in the cafeteria, and grow their own vegetables. Truly an example for all other schools and organizations to follow...WELL DONE!

I attended a workshop on carbon footprints led by a researcher from the University of Berkeley, Chris Jones, and am now happy to say that I can recommend a carbon calculator for everyone in the US. It's great because it is detailed and uses benchmarks to show how your footprint compares to others with similar circumstances to yours. Then it helps to create an action plan to reduce your footprint even more! BRILLIANT! I'll work on getting the widget for this blog, but in the mean time...

Calculate your carbon footprint here!

Inspired By Antarctica...ON TOUR!

To all in the SF Bay Area...

I'll be in Marin County next week to speak about my journeys to Antarctica at two Earth Day events. Joining me will be fellow Antarctic expeditioner, Joe Spedding, who is visiting from the UK. If you are nearby with an hour to spare, please come by! Details follow...please let me know if you plan to come to either so I can keep an eye out for you and say hello!

Thursday, April 22nd (40th Anniversary of Earth Day)
Marin Catholic High School - 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Kentfield
Performing Arts Center
12:00pm: Gather at the fountain in front of the center
12:15pm - 12:50pm: "Inspired By Antrarctica" (open to students, alumni, general public)
12:50pm - 1:30pm: Q&A & Reception

Friday, April 23rd (6th Annual "Green Your School" Conference)
San Domenico School - 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo
Hall of the Arts
8:15am - Keynote speakers for Opening Ceremony
http://www.sandomenico.org/page.cfm?p=1591

Antarctica helping Haiti

Last night I was thrilled to be able to use my Antarctic experience to earn $4000 for earthquake relief in Haiti. At my company's annual charity auction, the CEO and CFO went into a bidding war for my item, and ultimately I agreed to do two presentations for $2000 each! I'll be speaking to their kids' schools about my journeys to Antarctica, and what I've learned about environmental sustainability.

Local Action, Global Change

Legislative change, especially at the Federal level in the U.S., takes a long time. The people who are upset about the passing of health care reform will undoubtedly try to make a point to slow down Obama's next objective, the climate bill. Personally, I am disgusted at the amount of political bickering and associated violence attached to the health care bill, and saddened that a likely victim is the climate bill. We don't have time to waste.

I was, however, encouraged by some student action I read about in the Terre Haute, Indiana Tribune-Star. The article and people involved are right on the money about how we can't wait around for federal action. We must start locally, and at a state level. Indiana certainly isn't the only state where local action is brewing, and that's great news! Keep it up, people!

Students rally for green laws

Earth Hour and We Add Up

Hello to all, and a Happy Belated Earth Hour! I hope that you all were able to participate on Saturday night, or at least have been able to see some of the amazing reports from all over the world. Earth Hour 2010 trended top ten on Twitter and is being touted as the "largest mass demonstration in history". Reports of significant reduction in energy consumption for the hour are coming in from utility companies worldwide.

http://www.earthhour.org/

You may have noticed that I've been away for awhile...at least from my blog. I'll be posting again more regularly now, and I'll start with this link that contains a nice article on my recent Antarctic expedition, along with a mention of this blog. Before leaving for my expedition, I was given t-shirts by a great company called We Add Up, and I took a shot of some of us wearing them in Antarctica. The t-shirts feature an energy-saving tip on the back, and a unique number on the front...to keep track of how many people have "pledged" to do that particular action. A fantastic idea!

http://www.weaddup.com/blog/archives/inspired-by-antarctica/#comments

Until the next post...
Lauren